Home is where the heart is

CEO of CancerCare Neil's Blog

Good morning, As you will gather from the fact that I am sending out my blog, we have not moved as planned but the good news is we have exchanged contracts and will move next week on the 8th.

My week started with a meeting of the GDPR working group. We will be reporting our progress to all staff at our next staff meeting on the 20th of November. The group is working well and we are making inroads into the work we must do by May 2018.

I have used the opportunity I had this week to complete a number of work reviews, firstly with Alison Dixey and Alison Stainthorpe with some of the fund raising team. I have picked up on a real sense of drive and energy from everyone. It is always good to take time out and reflect on work priorities and what really matters.

Lee Knowles dropped in with a fantastic donation of £2,000 following the recent raffle and auction of a classic car. Lee is planning with his colleagues to do some further fundraising for us next year. Like all our amazing supporters, we owe them all a big thank you for what they do to support us.

A big thank you to all of our staff who have taken part in the MIND wellbeing inde. Two thirds of our staff took part, which is really good and very much above the average return rate for this kind of survey. Alison is busy preparing the return we are asked to do as an employer. The results will not be published until next year but when they are we will be sharing with you and agreeing how we move forward.

One of the outcomes of last year’s survey was our agreement to provide some mental health awareness training run by MIND Lancashire. Two sessions have been held and the one I attended was very good. I hope all those who took time out got something out of it. To those who did not, I sincerely hope you will attend next time if we can arrange to run a follow up.

Today, the two Alisons and I are mulling over all the comments and feedback we have had from staff, trustees and counsellors on the outline of our next three year plan. There is a lot to consider, plenty of great ideas, colour and spice. Our job over the next few weeks is to turn this into something clear and deliverable. We will be giving further updates in due course, but thank you to all of you for your contributions so far.

This weekend it is the final pack up for Alan and I. I will be on leave from Tuesday evening for the rest of the week, so blogging will resume on Friday 17th November.Be safe on Bonfire Night if you are out and about.